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House Judiciary To Probe Allegations White House Ordered Forged Letter Linking Saddam-Al Qaeda
After pundits have commented about the muted reaction to author Ron Suskind's explosive allegations last week, the House Judiciary Committee said today it will "review" the reports of White House and CIA misconduct.
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) didn't mention anything about hearings or subpoenas in his press release this afternoon. But the committee chairman did say he instructed his staff to look into the report that former CIA Director George Tenet in late 2003 ordered agents to concoct a letter showing false evidence linking Saddam to 9/11.
"Mr. Suskind reports that the Bush Administration, in its pursuit of war, created and promoted forged documents about Iraq," Conyers said in the press release. "I am particularly troubled that the decision to disseminate this fabricated intelligence is alleged to have come from the highest reaches of the administration."
After Suskind's new book was released last week, the White House promptly denied the accusation and two of Suskind's key CIA sources criticized the report, claiming Suskind misrepresented their remarks. Suskind responded by releasing a partial transcript of one taped interview with a key CIA source.
While that allegedly forged letter got all the press attention last week, Conyers indicated he would review several other questions raised in the book, "The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism."
A number of issues raised in Mr. Suskind's book to be reviewed include:· The origin of the allegedly forged document that formed the basis for Bush's 2003 State of the Union assertion that Iraq sought yellowcake uranium from Niger;
· The role of this document in creating the false impression that 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta had a working relationship with Iraq;
· The relationship between this document and other reported examples of the Bush Administration considering other deceptive schemes to justify or provoke war with Iraq, such as the reported consideration of painting a U.S. aircraft with UN colors in order to provoke Iraq into military confrontation;
· Allegations that the Bush Administration deliberately ignored information from Iraq's chief intelligence officer that Iraq possessed no WMDs;
· The payment of $5 million to Iraq's chief intelligence officer and his secret settlement in Jordan, beyond the reach of investigators;
· The September 2007 detainment and interrogation of Mr. Suskind's research assistant, Greg Jackson, by federal agents in Manhattan. Jackson's notes were also confiscated.
Josh
Zachary
Hello, Nancy, are you listening? Probably not because the Dem's put 'practicality' above principle, and the thousands of Americans dead and maimed doesn't matter where Practicality is supreme.
August 11, 2008 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
My abiding hope is that after November that the new Democratic Majority will actually exercise its oversight authority . And by that time maybe we can find a credible candidate to run against dear Madam Leader in the next primaries.
August 11, 2008 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is beyond all comprehension that the Speaker of the House cannot seem to grasp a fundemental right of the people. That right is to dump the corrupt, craven and crapulous administration currently in place as per the Constitution. you know "It's just a G**dam piece of paper" as per the President.
Why can't the Dem's that have become one of the most inept of bodies ever to serve, grow a pair already? They have to know that the majority of Americans would whole heartedly be behind them. Then again with a rating of 14% for Congress, perhaps it might make better sense to get rid of them all. Vote the bums out.
August 12, 2008 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Uh-oh. Conyers is troubled.
You wouldn't like him when he's troubled.
August 12, 2008 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
There they go again: The media are fabricating evidence to justify war between the executive and legislative branches. Wait a minute. That would be crazy - I mean, fabricating evidence?
Seriously- didn't the Rand Corp issue the definitive report that concluded there was no operational link between AQ and Saddam? So, if we have this nice little catch-all letter covering the "Niger shipment" and the Iraq AQ link, obviously something fishy is going on. One letter can hardly stand on its own against the Rand report.
August 12, 2008 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Paging Col. North! Bring paper-shedders and . . . A wood-chipper and man-sized safe.
August 12, 2008 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
We have had one hearing after another with the only actual results being that there was a hearing. When do we get some substantive results - like people going to jail, 'lawyers' being disbarred, congresscritters being expelled, anything having some actual teeth that would make future perpetrators stop and think that there just might be some actual consequences for trashing the Constitution and violating the moral and ethical values that have made America great?
The current democratic policy of just holding hearings with no results will just encourage the same type of behavior in the future.
.
August 12, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you want rid of Pelosi, fund Cindy Sheehan's campaign.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102012.html?hpid=topnews
Nancy Pelosi should be remembered as the democratic party's Neville Chamberlain in her support for an illegal war and failing to hold the administration accountable for felonies and war crimes committed. (Much like Chamberlain, being well-intentioned, but naive, is often a deadly combination for those sent to fight the wars while the warmakers reap the spoils.)
August 12, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Suskind's last book, One Percent Doctrine, was riddled with inaccuracies and exaggerations. The on-the-record sources (two) whom he relies on for his scoop have vociferously denied telling him what he claims they said, and Suskind's transcripts do not conclusively show that his subject were speaking about an ordered intel forgery. There's no meat in this sandwich.
August 12, 2008 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
matthewcole earning his McCain points for the day, hoping to rack up sufficient points to purchase his very own "Get Off My Porch" McCain '08 Welcome Mat.
August 12, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought I was up on how low this government has sunk, until I read this story. The final item listed on "A number of issues raised in Mr. Suskind's book to be reviewed..." The September 2007 detainment and interrogation of Mr. Suskind's research assistant, Greg Jackson, by federal agents in Manhattan. Jackson's notes were also confiscated."
This is the part I have feared the most. The actual and real invasion and obstruction of the press and private citizens. Many have posited the press failed in their primary duty due to interference but didn't really believe that the 'jack boots' were actaully marching down the streets. Are drums and torches next?
August 12, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
They will hold hearings, and no one will testify.
They will send out subpoenas, and no one will honor them.
They will write letters, and no one will read them.
And NOTHING will happen
And NOTHING will change
Don’t forget what our wise, and glorious attorney general just said:
“not every violation of the law is a crime.”
This from a man that was recommended by Chuckie Schumer and confirmed by a majority of the democratIC party. And I thought only the republiCONs were criminally negligent tools.
August 12, 2008 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, who seems to think that its just another day at the office.....I mean come on now, everyone has got to get their retirement nest egg, you know the one you and I pay for every f...ing day....Now, if for a minute one doesn't think that its all BS down there in Congress then you need to get a psychiatric evaluation immmediately. Because every single one of those dispicable pundits doesn't deserve to be in office any longer than 1 term ..... Its just becomes the "Golden Goose" after that and then your off to the Bahamas in luxury condo right on the beach per some lobbyist who wants you to pork barrell a bill so he can send his kids to an Ivy League College......When is America going to wake up and smell the coffee cause I'm beginning to wonder if everybody just is buying it all....
Zenmaster
August 14, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink